Government Procurement Answers
Plain-English answers to the questions vendors most often ask about finding, bidding on, and winning government contracts.
Foundational questions
How do I find government contracts?
Government contracts are publicly posted on agency procurement portals. The easiest path is SAM.gov for federal opportunities plus an aggregator like ProcureTap to cover state an…
Read full answer →How do I bid on government contracts?
Bidding on a government contract usually involves four steps: register with the issuing agency, read the solicitation in full, prepare a responsive proposal that addresses every …
Read full answer →What is the difference between an RFP, an RFQ, and an IFB?
An RFP asks vendors to propose how they would solve a complex requirement (evaluation considers price plus technical approach). An RFQ asks for a price quote on a fully defined n…
Read full answer →Do I need to register on SAM.gov to bid on government contracts?
SAM.gov registration is required for federal contracts but not for state or local contracts. State and local agencies have their own vendor registrations — usually free, but sepa…
Read full answer →How do small businesses win government contracts?
Small businesses win government contracts primarily through SBA set-aside programs (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB) that reserve specific contracts for qualifying firms, and by leve…
Read full answer →What is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov is the System for Award Management — the federal government's consolidated portal where vendors register to do business with federal agencies, where federal contract oppo…
Read full answer →What is a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)?
A UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned by SAM.gov to every entity registered to do business with the US federal government. It replaced the older DUNS number system in …
Read full answer →What is a CAGE code?
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is a five-character identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to firms doing business with the US federal government. It …
Read full answer →What is the simplified acquisition threshold?
The simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) is the federal dollar limit below which agencies can use streamlined "simplified" procurement procedures instead of full negotiated pro…
Read full answer →What is an IDIQ contract?
An IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity) contract is a federal contracting vehicle that lets agencies place multiple orders against a single award over a period of yea…
Read full answer →What is the GSA Schedule?
The GSA Schedule (now called Multiple Award Schedules or MAS) is a federal contracting vehicle managed by the General Services Administration that pre-approves vendors and pricin…
Read full answer →What is a GWAC?
A GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract) is a federal IDIQ contract designated by OMB for use by all federal agencies. GWACs are IT-focused and let any federal agency place …
Read full answer →How long does it take to win a government contract?
From identifying an opportunity to receiving an award typically takes 60-180 days for federal RFPs, 30-90 days for state and local RFPs, and 7-30 days for simplified acquisitions…
Read full answer →How much do government contracts pay?
Government contract values range from a few thousand dollars to multi-billion-dollar programs. The federal government spent roughly $760 billion on contracts in FY2024 across 11 …
Read full answer →Do I need a bond to bid on government contracts?
Bid bonds, performance bonds, and payment bonds are required on most federal construction contracts over $150,000 and on many state and local construction projects. Service contr…
Read full answer →What is the Davis-Bacon Act?
The Davis-Bacon Act requires federal construction contractors and their subcontractors to pay at least the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits to workers on federal cons…
Read full answer →What is the Service Contract Act?
The Service Contract Act (SCA) requires federal service contractors to pay at least the locally prevailing wages and benefits for service workers on federal contracts over $2,500…
Read full answer →What is past performance and how do I get it?
Past performance is your documented record of completing similar contracts on time, on budget, and to specification. Federal agencies evaluate past performance through CPARS rati…
Read full answer →What is best-value procurement?
Best-value procurement is an evaluation method where the agency considers price plus non-price factors (technical approach, past performance, management plan) and awards to the o…
Read full answer →What is an RFI and should I respond?
A Request for Information (RFI) is a pre-solicitation document where the agency asks vendors for capability information before issuing an RFP. RFIs are not contracts and create n…
Read full answer →What is a sole-source contract?
A sole-source contract is awarded to a single vendor without competition, based on a written agency determination that only one source can perform the work. Federal sole-source a…
Read full answer →How do I get on the GSA Schedule?
You get on the GSA Schedule (now MAS) by responding to the open MAS solicitation on SAM.gov with documentation of your commercial pricing, past performance, financial capacity, a…
Read full answer →What is a set-aside contract?
A set-aside contract is a procurement that is reserved exclusively for a specific category of vendors — typically small businesses or businesses certified under SBA preference pr…
Read full answer →Can I bid on government contracts as a sole proprietor?
Yes, sole proprietors can bid on federal, state, and local government contracts. The same SAM.gov registration and certification rules apply as for corporations and LLCs. Sole pr…
Read full answer →What is a bid protest?
A bid protest is a formal challenge to a federal procurement decision — typically the award of a contract to a competitor or the terms of a solicitation. Protests are filed with …
Read full answer →How do I find state procurement contracts?
State procurement contracts are posted on each state's official procurement portal — California uses Cal eProcure, Texas uses ESBD, New York uses NYSCR, etc. There are also many …
Read full answer →What NAICS code should I use?
Your primary NAICS code should be the code that best describes your primary line of business — usually where you generate the most revenue. You can register multiple NAICS codes …
Read full answer →What is the Buy American Act?
The Buy American Act requires federal agencies to give preference to domestically produced goods on federal contracts. The act applies broadly to federal procurement of supplies …
Read full answer →What is prevailing wage?
Prevailing wage is the locally prevailing hourly wage and fringe benefit rate that the US Department of Labor (or state labor departments) determines for each job classification …
Read full answer →Do I need FedRAMP to sell cloud services to the government?
Yes for most federal cloud services. FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is required for cloud services used by federal agencies, with three impact levels…
Read full answer →How do I get construction bids from government agencies?
Register as a vendor on SAM.gov for federal work, state DOT/general-services portals for state work, and cooperative platforms (BidNet Direct, DemandStar, Bonfire) for local gove…
Read full answer →State + industry deep dives
We have a dedicated answer page for every combination of state and industry — over 900 in total. Here are some popular ones:
- How to find construction contracts in california
- How to find information technology contracts in california
- How to find healthcare contracts in california
- How to find professional services contracts in california
- How to find construction contracts in texas
- How to find information technology contracts in texas
- How to find healthcare contracts in texas
- How to find professional services contracts in texas
- How to find construction contracts in new york
- How to find information technology contracts in new york
- How to find healthcare contracts in new york
- How to find professional services contracts in new york
- How to find construction contracts in florida
- How to find information technology contracts in florida
- How to find healthcare contracts in florida
- How to find professional services contracts in florida
- How to find construction contracts in illinois
- How to find information technology contracts in illinois
- How to find healthcare contracts in illinois
- How to find professional services contracts in illinois
What does my state buy?
- What does california buy?
- What does texas buy?
- What does new york buy?
- What does florida buy?
- What does illinois buy?
- What does alabama buy?
- What does alaska buy?
- What does arizona buy?
- What does arkansas buy?
- What does california buy?
- What does colorado buy?
- What does connecticut buy?
- What does delaware buy?
- What does district of columbia buy?
- What does florida buy?
- What does georgia buy?
- What does hawaii buy?